Rising Sun’s season and Lucy Carrigan’s high school career came to a close on Wednesday, January 31st, as the Waldron Lady Mohawks defeated the Lady Shiners 46-43 in Class 1A Sectional 60 action at Waldron.
Carrigan needed 41 points to set a new career scoring mark – but finished with 24.
After leading most of the first half, Rising Sun failed to keep the Mohawks off the offensive glass which was a key throughout the game. In the end it was a offensive rebound by the Shiner senior that wouldn’t fall, ending the Shiners season at 11-12.
The new sectional host, Waldron avenged an earlier 40-38 loss with a three point advantage.
The two teams knew it was going to be another tight game (both coming in at 11-11) but it didn’t start that way.
After an opening basket by Waldron freshman Lauryn Thomas (her lone basket of the night), Rising Sun tied the game with a basket by Danyka Groover on an assist from her sister Saige.
Carrigan buried the first of five 3-pointers for a 5 to 2 lead and Rising Sun led 11 to 4 after one quarter.
Rising Sun led by as many as 10 after a second Carrigan 3-pointer and a Groover hoop made it 16-6 to start the second quarter. Groover picked up her second foul with 5:20 left in the half.
Waldron went on an 11-3 run as Hannah Sullivan hit a pair of 3-pointers with Shiner freshman Maddi Wilson’s 3-pointer the only basket. Rising Sun maintained a 21 to 19 halftime lead but the poor first half shooting by the Mohawks (6-for-20).
The sectional hosts set the stage in the first half by dominating the boards, especially the offensive glass, leading to eight second chance points, four on 4-for-4 from the line by Morgan Wood.
Danyka Groover and Carrigan hared first half scoring lead with eight each including eight rebounds by Groover.
The game was tied twice to open the third quarter before 5’9″ front-liner Victoria Shaw regained the lead at 26-25 with 4:03 in the third. Rising Sun answered with Sydney Bostic scoring and Carrigan hitting another 3-pointer to force a time out with 3:06 in the third. Carrigan added to her game high 24 points for a six point Shiner lead, 32-26.
Shaw and Wood combined for seven straight for its second lead of the half.
Carrigan’s free throw tied the game, but Waldron took the lead after three quarters, 34-33, on another offensive rebound.
Carrigan pulled Rising Sun within one, 37-36, by throwing the inbounds pass off a defender and scoring.
Groover picked up fourth foul with four minutes left in regulation and Waldron had its largest lead, 40-36. Back-to-back Shiner turnovers forced Shiner Coach Abby Friend time out with 2:46 left after a no call on her niece Lucy going down at half-court.
Carrigan would come up 17 points shy of becoming the school’s career scoring leader (1,703). Jessica Brock’s 1,719 points is still tops.
Carrigan hit back to back 3-pointers including a banked in shot from straight on to tie the game at 42-42.
Waldron had a chance to take the lead after another offensive rebound but they could not connect.
After a Shiner turnover, Carrigan came back to get a steal and made one for two at the line for the final Shiner lead, 43-42, with :23.1 left. Sullivan then drove to give Waldron a 44-43 lead.
Coach Friend got a time out with :08.1 left. Officials put :09.0 on the clock.
After another Shiner turnover with :04.2 left, Sullivan was fouled on the inbounds play and buried the final two free throws to finish with 15.
Sullivan fouled out with :01.9 left and sent Bostic to the line. She missed the first shot and, with a three point deficit, the second shot went off to the left and Carrigan came up with the rebound and had one final shot that didn’t go. A longer rebound might have put Carrigan in position for a step back game tying 3-point try but she would need an old fashioned three point play – but it was not to be.
Carrigan averaged nine free throws a game but had only six attempts in an earlier two point win over Waldron. She was just 3-for-7 Wednesday.
– Tim Hillman